12 of the best British wildlife breaks

Britain’s wildlife does’t mind a spot of rain, so neither should you. We've a dozen top ideas, plus one in Ireland

Isobel's talking rain, the Met Office is back-pedalling on its promise of a "barbecue summer", and now we have to watch out for French storms as well? Sorry, but non.

No more rainy-day backups, no more hoping for blue sky: our summer may stink, but our wildlife this week is fantastic.

Ospreys are fledging in Scotland, seals are pupping in Norfolk, gannet chicks are squawking off the stunning coast of Kerry.

To hell with the weather - the encounters below are worth braving the elements for, but we've added plenty of cosy hides just in case the sun never shows.

1 DOLPHINSCornwall

Bad weather can be good news off Cornwall: upswellings bring nutrients to the surface, sardines and squid vacuum them up, then dolphins home in like vultures to a kill. Superpods of 1,000 or more common dolphins are sometimes seen. Sailing from Falmouth at 10am, 2pm and 5pm, Orca